Switch for centrifugal oil and water separators



April 15, 1952 w. R. MACDONALD SWITCH FOR CENTRIFUGAI.. OIL AND WATER SEPARATORS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 27, 1949 m MM w. R. MACDONALD 2,593,043

SWITCH FOR CENTRIFUGAL OIL AND WATER SEPARATORS April 15, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1949 1.41.1: lll.; EEEE Fys. m

3 INVENTOR. F \G j April 15, 1952 w. R. MACDONALD SWITCH FOR CENTRIFUGAL OIL AND WATER SEPARATORS Filed May 27, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. 5g/ILM PatentedlkApr. 15, 1952 SWITCH FOR CENTRIFUGAL OIL AND WATER SEPARATORS William Roy Macdonald, Glen Cove, N. Y.

Application May 27, 1949, Serial No. 95,667

(Cl. 20D- 85) 2 claims.

The invention relates to a device which when attached to the waste water outlet of any centrifuge used in separating oil and water, will prevent any accidental loss of centrifuged oil into the bilge or sewer through the waste outlet.

In normal everyday operation of these centrifuges, close and constant observation on the part of the operators is required due to the fact that there is always the possibility of losing valuable oil to the bilge or sewer. This condition is not uncommonand will result from any one of the following troubles.

(a) The bowl losing its water seal due to imperfect or otherwise impaired bowl sealing joints.

(b) Any slowing down of the bowl speed below minimum' allowable speed requirements. due to electrical, mechanical, or other failures within the machine.

(c) Accidental loss, or breakage of the bowl driving belt, in the case of belt driven centrifuges.

(d) Allowing machine to operate continuously for too long a period without cleaning sludge and sediment from the rotating bowl element.

My new and improved device is attached directly to the waste outlet in such a manner that all waste water must pass through the bowl of the device. Essentially, the unit is a cup or bowl suspended on springs. All waste passes into this cup and drains to the bilge through an orice .plate located in the cups base. However in the event of erratic or abnormal operation of the centrifuge as heretofore described, oil will pass from the waste outlet in quantities much greater than can be adequately drained off by the cup orifice, and the cup will nll up to a point where the combined weights of the cup and the confined oil is sulcientfto overcome spring tension which suspends the cup and moves it vertically downward. This movement actuates a switch which simultaneously sounds oi an electrical audible alarm and also, electrically stops the flow of oil feeding into the centrifuge, positively preventing any loss of oil tothe bilge.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a detailed top view of an anchor plate;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the detail of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed top view of an operating plate or a flange member;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the detail of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detailed top view of a base plate;

Fig. 8 is a side view of the detail of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a detailed side view of a receiver cup;

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the detail of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detailed side view of a sleeve;

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of the detail of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a detailed elevational view of a pin;

Fig. 14 is a detailed top view of a locking arm;

Fig. 15 is an elevational View of the detail of Fig. 14; and,

Fig. 16 is a bottom plan view of the detail of Figs. 14 and 15.

Similar reference characters refer to similar` parts throughout the several views.

In the assembled unit, the anchor plate (part I) is the means by which the device is secured to the waste pipe of the centrifuge (not shown). This plate is designed to slip-lit over 1%" standard pipe and is secured to it by means of set screws fitted into tapped holes I8. The riding pins 6 are threaded on both ends. The larger ends are screwed into tapped holes in the anchor plate I and made rigid by sweating pins 6 to plate I. The lower extremities of pins 6 are attached to base plate 3 with a body bound t and secured to same with nuts. This assembly of riding pins 6, with anchor plate I, and base plate 3, constitutes the basic framework of the complete assembly. The operating plate 2 floats upon riding pins 6 under compression of four light coil springs II. Fiber washers I2 are fitted under springs at their point of contact with operating plate 2. The receivervcup 4 is aflixed to the operating plate 2 with a press t, and is considered an integral part of this plate. The sleeve 'I is sweated into the underside of anchor plate I and extends downward, terminating well inside of receiver cup rim 4. The clearance between the extreme lower flared end of sleeve 1 and the inner circumference of cup 4 is very small but positive. In the base of cup 4 a snap-in orice plate 5 is tted. The quantity of compression desired between coil springs II and operating plate 2 is regulated by adjustment of lock nuts 23 working upon threaded portion of riding pins 6. Any vertical downward movement of operating plate 2 will result in movement of contact pin ID which in turn acts upon roller cam I9, and leaf spring 20, which in turn operates electrical switch 2|. This switch is of conventional, double throw double pole design, being housed beneath cover I6, which is secured to base plate 3 by screws I5. The switch is secured to the housing by screws I4, and centrally located by spacers I1. Opening 26 in cover I6 is the point where electrical control wire is fed into switch 2l. The male thread 22 may be fitted with any conventional threaded cap capable of making a watertight connection between the control wire and the housing I6 through which it passes.

A locking bar 8 is fitted to anchor plate I and Y pierces operating plate 2. It is operated by turning handle 9. A friction washer i3 offers sumcient resistance to keep handle in any desired position. This attachment is utilized during the initial starting and regulating of a centrifuge until such time that machine settles down. Its purpose is to lock the operating plate 2 rigidly during any idle or starting up period. A typical example of the operation of my device would be as follows:

Let us assume that our centrifuge is operating normally for a period of time, then for some unknown reason the drive belt is thrown from the bowl spindle. Gradually the rim speed of the bowl diminishes. However, an unrestricted iow of contaminated oil is still being fed to the bowl. As soon as bowl speed falls below minimum design speed, effective centrifugal action ceases and the oil which is still being fed to the bowl assumes a new path and follows the course normally taken by the waste water. Thus a full flow of oil is directed toward cup 4 from the centrifuge waste outlet pipe (not shown). Let us assume at this point that the coil springs Il acting upon operating plate 2 require approximately ve ounces to counteract and depress them, permitting plate 2 to move vertically downward.

Now as the oil enters cup 3, only a very small amount of it is permitted to escape through the orifice plate 5, and into the bilge through the drain nipple, the greater bulk of the oil being held and rapidly accumulated within cup 4. The sleeve 'l also assists in preventing any noticeable amount of oil from escaping over the rim of cup 4. When six or seven ounces of oil has accumulated the cup weight will overcome spring compression and will move operating plate 2 vertically downward, contacting pin lll and actuating switch 2l. In the tripping of the switch, two distinct and separate actions take place simultaneously. First an alarm circuit is completed, audibly warning the operator of existing difficulties. Secondly an electrical circuit is broken, curbing all oil feed to the centrifuge.

It might be noted that in cases where oil is centrifuged which is very highly contaminated with water, a large orice plate 5 would be advisable to permit adequate drainage from the bowl. In some instances during the separating process, a slug ofwater might be of sufficient quantity to fill the cup and actuate the electrical control and alarm circuits. If this does occur there is no harm done since the switch will reset itself to normal position after water has drained sufficiently from the cup.

Since certainvchanges may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus fully described my said invention, What'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United is:

1. A centrifugal oil and water separator control device comprising an anchor plate having a perforation in its main portion, a pair of parallel pins right angularly disposed to said anchor plate being secured to the end portions of said anchor plate and downwardly extended therefrom, a base plate being secured to the lower ends of said pins, a flange member intermediate said anchor plate and said base plate being slidable on said pins, resilient means being interposed between said anchor plate and said flange member as well as between said base plate and said flange member, means for adjusting the tension of said resilient means being provided on said pins, a cup-shaped vessel having a perforated bottom being extended through and secured to said flange member, a sleeve member attached to the perforated portion of said anchor plate being extended into said cup-shaped vessel, means for temporarily preventing a movement of said flange member relative to said anchor plate being aixed to the latter, a tubular member extending from the perforated bottom of said cup-shaped vessel through said base plate being movable relative to the latter, and means for controlling an electric circuit being secured to said base plate and provided with a contact operating movable member extending toward said flange member, the latter having an extension adapted for engaging and'moving said contact operating member when theiange member reaches a predetermined distance from said base plate.

2. A device of the character described comprising an anchor plate having a partially circuflar perforated main portion provided with threaded radial bores, parallel `pins-right angularly disposed to said anchor plate'being secured to the end portions of the anchor plate and downwardly extended therefrom and having threaded end portions, a base plate being secured to the lower ends of said pins, a flange member intermediate said anchor plate and said base plate being in slidable engagement with said pins, nuts being screwed upon the threaded portions of said pins, springs being interposed between said nuts and both sides of said flange member, a cup-shaped vessel having a. perforated bottom being extended through and secured to said flange member, a sleeve member attached to the perforated portion of said anchor plate having an outwardly flared lower portion which extends into said cup-shaped vessel, locking means being provided on said anchor plate and said flange member for temporarily limiting the movement of the latter relative to the former, said base plate having a perforation and a tubular member secured to the perforated bottom of said cupsnaped vessel being slidably extended through the perforation in said base plate, and means for controlling an electrical circuit being secured to said base plate and located in such a manner as to be actuated by the sliding movement of said ange member on said pins.

WILLIAM ROY MACDONALD.

REFERENCES CiTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

